Harvey Ottmar

Harvey R. Ottmar passed from this earth on Monday, October 21, 2013 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Harvey was born in Neppel, Washington on July 22, 1934 and lived his entire life in the Moses Lake area where he farmed with his parents, Richard and Mary Jeske Ottmar. The Ottmars owned and/or operated farms around the area including Farm-In-A-Day and the Cascade Valley area. After Richard’s passing, Harvey continued to farm ground in the Wheeler Corridor area and around what is now the REC plant. In addition to farming, Harvey also operated Basin Trucking, which primarily hauled agricultural commodities. Harvey served on the board of the Mosquito Control District for 32 years. He was also a member of the Moses Lake Classic Car Club and enjoyed restoring old cars and tractors in his shop with his good friend Richard Findley. He had also been a member of the Moses Lake Gun Club and enjoyed taking his children to the range. In addition to his loving wife of 45 years, June, Harvey is survived by three children from his first marriage; Terry Ottmar, Kerry Joe (Michelle) Ottmar, Tammy (Bill) Begeman; and two step-daughters Sharon (Bob) Bernd, and Diane (Dane) Dunford. Harvey will also be missed by his 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Besides his wife and family, Harvey’s love was farming. After his Parkinson’s kept him from actively farming, you could usually find him sitting in his shop on Wheeler Road or helping the Reffetts, who leased his farm units. Viewing will be held at Kayser’s Chapel on Thursday, October 24th from 10AM to 7PM and Friday October 25th from noon to 5PM. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory. Harvey’s final resting place will be in a special spot that he previously farmed and which is now Guarding Angels Cemetery. Family and friends will gather for graveside services at the cemetery Saturday, October 26th at 11AM. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Parkinson’s Disease, Dept. of Medicine Division of Neurology, RG-27 University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 The family also wishes to send special thanks to the staff at Lake Ridge Solana Care Center for the loving care they provided.

Harvey Ottmar

July 22, 1934 - October 21, 2013